Learning the Power of Hips

November 23, 2014 By Peter

Sakamoto--Sensei demonstrates techniques with Toko Liu in his Bradford seminar. — *Sakamoto–Sensei demonstrates techniques with Toko Liu in his Bradford seminar.*

Last July, Ryusei Karate-Do Canada was happy to host Ken Sakamoto-Sensei for a series of clinics. During the visit, Sakamoto-Sensei freely shared the results of his hard practice and study, combining his own insights with what he learned from O-Sensei and, more recently, from Katsuhiko Shinzato-Sensei, head of Shōrin-ryū Kishaba Juku in Okinawa.

On his previous visit to Canada, Sakamoto-Sensei shared his shime-goshi hip technique, with the sideways vibration derived from Naihanchi kata. With his recent clinics, he expanded on this concept and added what he calls ‘hakama-goshi.’

Chito-Ryu: The Next Generation

December 16, 2013 By Peter

Senior practitioners of Chito-ryu karate live under long shadows. First there is enormous shadow cast by founder Tsuyoshi Chitose, a martial arts virtuoso who studied under many masters and synthesized what he learned into his remarkable art.

Then there are the shadows cast by the pioneers who introduced Chito-ryu to their countries and amassed impressive organizations. In North America these larger-than-life figures include Masami Tsuruoka, the Father of Canadian Karate; Shane Y. Higashi, head of the Canadian Chito-ryu Karate Association; and the late William Dometrich, founder of the United States Chito-ryu Karate Federation.

As longtime adherents of this karate style, most of ask ourselves at some point, What we should learn and emulate from these impressive examples?

First Copies of New Ryusei Karate Manual Published

August 16, 2013 By Peter

Some advance copies of the new Ryusei Karate-Do kyu belt technical manual have been published. This new manual includes a translation of the original Japanese manual, created by Ken Sakamoto-Sensei. It also includes illustrations of basic techniques, kata and bunkai created by Kambiz Miranbigi and Rick Going of Ottawa Ryusei Karate-Do. And finally there is a DVD of technique created in Japan, with footage of kata and bunkai being performed by Sakamoto-Sensei and other senior Ryusei instructors.

Copies of the manual are being sent to dojo in Canada as well as our dojo heads in the U.S., Japan and Australia. We’ll take advance orders from the dojo and then do a print run in late September or early October.

The manual will serve as an invaluable aid to students, serving as a reference to help them remember and understand the technique they learn in the dojo. The manual is published in a binder, so that when new illustrations of the black belt kata and bunkai are created, the new pages can be added without having to purchase a separate manual.

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